--- title: SR 471. Arab American Heritage Month; recognize April 2025 collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr471 cite_as: SR 471, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr471 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr471.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr471/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71669 date: 2025-03-27 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr470.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr472.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr471.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 471 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-27 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Sheikh Rahman - RaShaun Kemp - Derek Mallow - Kenya Wicks - Ed Harbison - Nan Orrock - Tonya Anderson - Gail Davenport - Donzella James - Nabilah Islam Parkes - Nikki Merritt - Emanuel Jones - Shawn Still - Randal Mangham - Sally Harrell - Michael Rhett - Jason Esteves - Harold Jones text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR471/2025 upstream_id: 2014742 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Arab American Heritage Month - Senate resolution - cultural recognition - Georgia Senate --- # SR 471. Arab American Heritage Month; recognize April 2025 ## Text 25 LC 112 3476 Senate Resolution 471 By: Senators Rahman of the 5th, Kemp of the 38th, Mallow of the 2nd, Wicks of the 34th, Harbison of the 15th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing April 2025 as Arab American Heritage Month; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, for over a century, Arab Americans have been making valuable contributions2 to several aspects of American society, including medicine, law , business, education,3 technology, government, military service, and culture; and4 WHEREAS, since migrating to America, men and women of Arab descent have shared their5 rich culture and traditions with neighbors and friends while al so setting fine examples of6 model citizens and public servants; and7 WHEREAS, Arab Americans have brought their resilient family values, strong work ethic,8 dedication to education, and diversity in faith and creed to America, adding strength to our9 great democracy; and10 WHEREAS, Arab Americans have enriched American society by shari ng in the11 entrepreneurial spirit that makes our nation free and prosperous, and they join all Americans12 in the desire to see a peaceful and diverse society where every individual is treated equally13 and feels safe; and14 S. R. 471 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3476 WHEREAS, the incredible contributions and heritage of Arab Americans have helped build15 a better nation, and the State of Georgia is proud of its many Arab American citizens who16 contribute so much to their communities as neighbors, coworkers, and friends.17 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body18 recognize April 2025 as Arab American Heritage Month.19 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed20 to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the21 press.22 S. R. 471 - 2 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia Senate resolution recognizes April 2025 as Arab American Heritage Month, honoring the contributions of Arab Americans to the state and country. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia Senate rather than a law that changes any statute. It states that Arab Americans have contributed to American society for over a century in fields like medicine, law, business, education, technology, government, military service, and culture. The resolution formally declares April 2025 as Arab American Heritage Month in Georgia. It also directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies of the resolution available to the public and the press. The measure does not create any new legal requirements, funding, or penalties; it is a statement of recognition adopted by the Senate. ### What it does - Formally recognizes April 2025 as Arab American Heritage Month through a Senate resolution. - Lists contributions Arab Americans have made to fields such as medicine, law, business, education, technology, government, and the military. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. - Creates no new statutes, funding, or enforceable legal obligations, as resolutions of this type do not amend Georgia law. ### Who it affects The resolution primarily concerns Arab American residents of Georgia, whose heritage and contributions it recognizes. It also involves the Secretary of the Senate, who is tasked with distributing copies of the resolution to the public and press. ### Why it matters While the resolution carries no legal force and changes no Georgia law, it represents a formal, public acknowledgment by the state Senate of Arab Americans' contributions to Georgia and the nation, and it establishes an official symbolic observance for April 2025. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe Arab American contributions to medicine, law, business, education, technology, government, military service, and culture. - The resolving clause formally recognizes April 2025 as Arab American Heritage Month in Georgia. - A further clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available for distribution to the public and the press. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-27) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-03-27) - Sponsors: Sheikh Rahman, RaShaun Kemp, Derek Mallow, Kenya Wicks, Ed Harbison, Nan Orrock, Tonya Anderson, Gail Davenport, Donzella James, Nabilah Islam Parkes, Nikki Merritt, Emanuel Jones, Shawn Still, Randal Mangham, Sally Harrell, Michael Rhett, Jason Esteves, Harold Jones - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71669 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr471.md?full=1